Italy: Israeli honored

ROME — Rome has given honorary citizenship to an Israeli soldier kidnapped by militants linked to Gaza's militant Islamic Hamas group three years ago. Sgt. Gilad Schalit's father, Noam Schalit received the honor at a city hall ceremony Wednesday. A giant photo of the soldier hung in the piazza, with the words "Rome wants its citizen Gilad Schalit free" — words Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno repeated at the evening ceremony. Talks to trade Schalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel have been unsuccessful.